Windows Latest had spotted references to “Windows 11 24H2” in support documents, and Microsoft has now officially confirmed the update. In a new blog post announcing Sudo for Windows, Microsoft noted that testers in the Dev/Canary channels will notice “Windows 11 version 24H2” in Settings, Winver and other places.

This confirms the big update of the year is called “Windows 11 24H2”, and not “Windows 12”. Windows 11 24H2 is supposed to be the biggest “AI upgrade” for the OS and will carry a Build number in the 26xxx range. You’ll notice the updated version and numbers in Settings > System > About after installing Build 26052 or newer.

“This denotes that Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update, Microsoft noted.

“Windows 11 will have an annual feature update cadence that releases in the second half of the calendar year,” the company clarified, adding that it will continue to focus on the annual feature update approach.

Even though companies like Qualcomm suggested Microsoft might release something like Windows 12, Microsoft has decided to stick with Windows 11 for now.

So does that mean bigger changes are not expected? Well, not really. It is important to understand that the branding of Windows releases isn’t important.

Even though the next version of Windows isn’t named Windows 12, but rather “Windows 11 2024 Update,” it doesn’t mean there won’t be significant updates or changes. The names and branding of the operating system are chosen by the marketing team, which means they can decide on any name that fits their strategy.

Windows has a new leadership headed by the Microsoft Bing team, which wants more people to try Windows Copilot and other AI features. To achieve this, Microsoft plans to focus on releasing new updates for Windows 11 instead of creating another Windows release like Windows 12.

It is worth noting that Windows 12 has not been cancelled, and it may still happen in 2025 or later. According to sources familiar with the development, Microsoft is also believed to be working on a ChromeOS-like variant of the OS to take on the Chromebooks in the education market.

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In a now-deleted blog post, which was first spotted and cached by Windows Latest, Microsoft confirmed Sudo for Windows is a new way to “elevated commands directly from an unelevated console session”, and it has plans to make the feature open-source on GitHub.

Microsoft describes Sudo for Windows as “an ergonomic and familiar solution for users who want to elevate a command without having to first open a new elevated console”. Sudo for Windows is in the early stages of development, and it was recently spotted in a leaked Windows Server 2025 build.

In a deleted blog post, Microsoft notes that Sudo can be enabled from Settings > For Developers page, and toggle on the “Enable Sudo” option.

You can also enable Sudo for Windows by running the following command in an elevated console session:

sudo config --enable <configuration_option>

As we previously reported, Sudo for Windows currently supports three different configuration options:

• In a new window (newWindow): In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will open a new elevated console window and run the command in that window. This is the default configuration option when sudo is enabled. For example, if you run:
  sudo netstat -abA new window will open and the command will be run in that window
• Input closed (disableInput): In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will run the elevated process in the current window, but the new process will be spawned with its stdinput closed. This means that the new process will not accept any user input, so this configuration will not work for processes that require further user input after elevation.
• Inline (normal): This configuration is most similar to the behavior of sudo on other operating systems. In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will run the elevated process with its stdinput, stdoutput, and stderror all connected to the current window. This means the new elevated process can take in input and route output to the current window.

Microsoft explains how Sudo for Windows works

When you run a process from the command-line with sudo, a UAC dialog will appear, asking the user to confirm the elevation. And you’ll be able to use sudo in the terminal like you do on Linux or macOS.

In a New Window

In this configuration, sudo.exe will launch a new elevated console window and run the command in that window. The new window will be launched with the same working directory as the current window.

The new window will also be launched with the same environment variables as the current window. This configuration has a similar flow to the runas command.

Input Closed and Inline

In these configurations, sudo.exe will launch a new elevated process, an elevated sudo.exe process, and the original unelevated sudo.exe will establish an RPC connection with the new elevated process.

In other words, information is passed from the unelevated sudo instance to the elevated one. Specifically, the console handles from the unelevated process are passed to the elevated process which allows the elevated process to read input from the unelevated process and write output to the unelevated process.

However, when sudo is configured in the “Input Closed” configuration, the elevated process will essentially not be passed the console’s input handle, so it will not be able to read input from the user.

It is important when running sudo in the “Inline” or “Input Closed” configurations to be aware of the security implications. It is possible that a medium integrity process can drive the elevated process. This risk is mitigated in the “Input Closed” configuration because the elevated process will not be able to read input from the user.

Microsoft noted that it will also be publishing documentation for Sudo for Windows and will be sharing more details about the security implications of running sudo in the “Inline” configuration.

“Our team is working on open-sourcing Sudo for Windows, and we’re excited to share more details about our plans in the coming months,” the company noted in a now-deleted blog post.

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You will now see a GIF when using the Mail and Calendar app, prompting you to switch to the new Outlook. Click the Continue button to make the transition, or politely decline the offer by clicking the Not Now button. Even if you automatically migrate to the new Outlook app, you can revert to the old app.

The old Mail and Calendar app will remain on the Microsoft Store until December 31, 2024. After that, you have no choice but to accept the new Outlook app with open arms. If you are adamant, you can download the package installer and keep using the Mail and Calendar app after 2024, but it won’t receive updates or support.

What’s Good and Bad About the New Outlook?

Apart from the slightly revamped user interface and support for Windows 11 and 10, you can now pin emails or snooze them for later. Adding categories and scheduling emails is also possible.

The new Outlook is a web app that lacks some features supported by the existing Outlook and Mail apps.

You will find the Calendar and To-do list in the My Day section. It supports connecting Microsoft 365, Outlook, and third-party email accounts like Gmail and Yahoo. We faced no issues while logging in with a personal Microsoft account.

The new Outlook doesn’t support PST files, but Microsoft assures that it will do so in the future. You cannot use COM add-ins; offline support is missing from the picture. It also lacks POP3 support without indicating whether it will fix the flaw.

A connection error occurs if you launch the new Outlook app without an internet connection. So, not everything is possible with the new Outlook, and it won’t overshadow the desktop Outlook app.

Users are divided on the idea of the new Outlook app.

Some love the new UI and features, while others despise the idea of removing the Mail and Calendar app in favor of a web app that needs the internet, even to check existing emails. However, the decision is final, and you must migrate to the new app, whether you like it or not.

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For those unaware, Qualcomm revealed the Snapdragon X, a new laptop-class Arm CPU, during an event in 2023. Unlike the previous generation, Windows on ARM processors, Snapdragon X Elite is so powerful that it can outperform Apple’s M3 SoC. It can also compete against Intel and AMD’s x86 CPUs.

Speaking to the investors during the Q1 2024 earnings call, Qualcomm confirmed its new Apple M3-killer chipset dubbed “Snapdragon X Elite” will debut during the back-to-school season and is also tied to a Windows launch. According to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon,  there will be plenty of “X Elite” models, hinting at “big plans”.

Qualcomm’s CEO, Cristiano Amon, stated that its Snapdragon X Elite chipset for PCs is scheduled for a mid-2024 release and is designed to work hand-in-hand with the next version of Windows.

“We’re tracking to the launch of products with this chipset tied with the next version of Microsoft Windows that has a lot of the Windows AI capabilities,” Amon said.

Qualcomm believes the mid-2024 timing aligns perfectly with the back-to-school season, aiming to make a significant impact in the market.

“We like that everybody is now talking about on-device AI on PC. That’s where we started this journey with X Elite. And I think that proved to be a tailwind to the opportunity for us in PCs,” Amon added.

Qualcomm didn’t tell us the name of the next big Windows release, but the company confirmed that Microsoft is testing several AI features. It is worth noting that Qualcomm is an important partner of Microsoft, and it’s hoping that the next big Windows release will be a game changer in the market.

While answering another investor’s question, Qualcomm’s CEO highlighted increasing design wins since the Snapdragon X Elite’s announcement last October. The Snapdragon X Elite aims to set a new benchmark for next-generation Windows PCs, focusing on on-device AI, a field where Qualcomm has been pioneering.

This initiative is part of Qualcomm’s broader strategy following its acquisition of NUVIA, where the focus has shifted towards designing custom cores for the PC market. This move was motivated by the need to achieve performance leadership within the Windows ecosystem, requiring Qualcomm to develop its CPU technology.

The success of the X Elite chipset is seen as a stepping stone for Qualcomm, not just in PCs but across all its product lines. Previously, Qualcomm made some big claims that Snapdragon X Elite is much faster than Apple M chips, which was also observed in leaked benchmarks.

Is it Windows 11 or Windows 12?

While nobody knows whether the next version is Windows 12 or Windows 11, we’ve spotted multiple references to “Windows 11 24H2”.

A support document, first spotted by Windows Latest, also confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 codenamed “Hudson Valley” is most definitely on the way.

You can expect the big AI upgrade to arrive first on Snapdragon X Elite SoC-based PCs in mid-2024 from various vendors, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo. After debuting on Snapdragon X Elite processors, the big Windows AI upgrade will ship to existing hardware in September-October.

The post Qualcomm: Big Windows AI upgrade, Snapdragon X Elite for mid 2024 to topple Apple M3 appeared first on Windows Latest

If you’ve ever downloaded an archived file in .zip, tar, GZ, and other formats, you would have used an extra program or apps like WinRAR or 7 Zip to extract its content. Windows 11 gained support for Zip, TAR, GZ and other formats last year, and Microsoft is now adding a new tool to make the process even easier.

Starting with Windows 11 Build 26040 (Canary) or newer, it is possible to manually select the archive format and change the compression method and compression level. When you select a file and click “Compress to”, you can choose between Zip (default) and “Additional options”.

The additional options button opens a new “Create Archive” wizard that lets you switch between 7zip, TAR, and ZIP archive formats. These are just different ways to store the files.

Similarly, it lets you decide how the files are compressed to take up less room.

Different methods can be used, but what you can choose depends on the format you picked. The options are Store (which doesn’t compress at all), Deflate (a common way that shrinks files), BZip2, Xz, Standard, LZMA1, and LZMA2 (these are just different methods that can make files smaller).

You can also change the compression level. This is a number from 0 to 9 that tells Windows how much to try to shrink the files. A higher number means the files will take up less space, but it might take longer to reduce the size.

As you can see in the above screenshot, Microsoft has added two toggles or special options – Retain symbolic links and hard links. If you select the option, Windows will make sure that certain types of shortcuts in the files are kept the same when compressed into the archive.

Windows 11’s new tool compresses files to make them smaller and more organized, giving you different choices on how to do that.

So, how does the whole integration work so smoothly? Microsoft previously confirmed the company used the open-source lib archive project, a library of file archive formats, to bring the native archive functionality to Windows 11.

Thanks to the open-source tool integration, Microsoft may also enable support for additional file formats in future, such as XAR and LZH.

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You might be familiar with “Sudo” if you’ve used Linux-based Distro or Linux on a server or have a macOS. The Sudo command in Linux or macOS allows modifying system files, changing system settings, system-wide updates and more. The same command is now heading to Windows 11.

The Sudo “superuser do” command is coming to Windows 11 as part of the developer settings. It may allow you to manage settings that require administrative privileges, such as uninstalling apps, changing system settings, or other developer-related settings. You’ll find the Sudo toggle in the developer settings of Windows 11.

First look at Sudo settings in Windows 11

The Sudo command requires you to enable the developer mode, but it currently doesn’t work in the leaked builds.

As you can see in the above screenshots, you’ll be able to configure Sudo command behaviour by setting preferences for how commands run with Sudo work:

• In a new window: This might mean that when you run a command with Sudo, it opens in a separate new window, possibly a terminal window, where the command is executed.
• With input disabled: It’s unclear how this toggle works. However, if we go by the name, it could indicate a security feature where input from the keyboard or mouse is temporarily disabled while the Sudo command is running to prevent unauthorized actions during its execution.
• Inline: This might allow the Sudo command to execute within the current window or context without opening a new window, which could be helpful for quick tasks or when working within an integrated development environment (IDE).

The Sudo settings also warned that running command could expose the device and personal data to security risks and potentially harm your device without explaining the titbits.

You’ll be able to access the Sudo command using Command Prompt, PowerShell, or any terminal interface on Windows as long as the feature is enabled and developer mode is turned on.

We don’t know when the Sudo command is coming to the production (stable) builds, but it’s possible it could ship outside Windows 11 version 24H2. In the past, Microsoft has backported features to older versions of Windows.

Windows 11 24H2 is the next big platform release of the OS with exciting AI features, such as an advanced version of Copilot and an AI-powered automatic super-resolution feature for wallpapers.

Some initially believed this year’s update could debut as “Windows 12”, but references and sources have refuted such claims.

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While it’s widely speculated that Microsoft’s next operating system will be called Windows 12, there’s a chance this may not be the truth. Multiple references and sources have suggested the next release of Windows is called “Windows 11 2024 Update”, and it’s based on the Germanium (24H2) platform release.

For those unaware, Microsoft codenames Windows updates after elements from the periodic table, and it follows the same sequence observed in previous updates. The known codenames in the sequence have been Cobalt (21H2) and Nickel (22H2). The most recent update, “23H2”, was based on the Windows 11 22H2 update codebase.

Based on our understanding of Windows development, here’s what’s happening with Windows releases:

• Windows 11 (21H2): This initial version was codenamed “Sun Valley” and was based on the “Cobalt” codebase. It was released in October 2021.
• Windows 11 2022 Update (22H2): This update was codenamed “Sun Valley 2” and was based on the “Nickel” codebase. It was released on September 20, 2022.
• Windows 11 2023 Update (23H2): This update was based on the 2022 Update codebase. It was enabled via an enablement package and released on October 31, 2023.
• Windows 11 2024 Update (24H2): This update is codenamed “Hudson Valley” and is based on the “Germanium” platform release.

The next release will be Germanium (24H2), which will ship between September and October.

Microsoft watcher Xeno has already spotted references to Build 27547, which is from the internal development branch. The “27xxx” series builds are initially intended for internal testing within Microsoft.

After internal testing, changes from these builds might be released to consumers through the Canary channel. The “26xxx” series, codenamed “Ge” (Germanium), might represent a more stable set of builds that are closer to being ready for public release.

In other words, Build 27547 isn’t Windows 12 or ge_release, but it confirms bigger changes are now tested internally.

Is it called Windows 12?

There’s a lot of talk about what the next big Windows release will be. Many think it’ll be called “Windows 12,” but there’s no official name yet. A good guess is it might be the “Windows 11 2024 Update (24H2).”

Why? Panos Panay, the former head of Windows and Surface at Microsoft, has left the company. The new bosses seem to be thinking differently and aren’t rushing to bring out a brand-new Windows version.

Instead, Microsoft might update Windows 11 again in 2024 with AI features, and Windows 12 will happen in 2025 with bigger platform changes, such as a version of the OS that could rival ChromeOS.

The post New hint suggests Windows 11 24H2 big AI upgrade is one step closer to release appeared first on Windows Latest

The Copilot GPTs do not require a Microsoft account or Edge browser. In our tests, we could access the GPTs in Google Chrome without signing into a Microsoft account. For now, GPTs are limited in functionality, and you can only use the basic modules like a GPT for fitness, designing or cooking.

Copilot GPTs are more optimized for the topic of your choosing. For example, if you select Microsoft Designer GPT, you should be able to generate more creative images using DALL-E 3. That’s because the Designer GPT is more optimized for creativity using extra knowledge and can also maximize the potential of DALL-E 3.

OpenAI noted in its blog post that GPTs are more than just prompt engineers; they include additional instructions, extra knowledge, and any combination of skills.

In other words, GPTs are tailored to your needs, and Microsoft is bringing the powerful feature to everyone for free.

The tech giant is currently testing the following GPTs:

• Copilot: Bringing you a balance of A1 and the web
• Designer: Creating images from words.
• Vacation planner: Discover, plan, and book travel.
• Cooking assistant: Find, plan, and cook meals.
• Fitness trainer: Fitness programs and wellness tips.

The GPTs customize the existing Copilot experience, and Microsoft plans to introduce more GPTs in the coming weeks.

Hands on with Copilot GPTs

1 of 4

Microsoft tests Copilot GPT Builder

If you’ve access to Copilot Pro, you can also build and customize these Copilot GPTs, which are similar to the GPT builder available in ChatGPT Plus. To build a Copilot GPT, you can answer some questions and go through the straightforward prompt engineering, knowledge upload, and other actions.

It’s worth noting that these GPTs are already present in ChatGPT Plus, but Microsoft is bringing them to the free version of Copilot.

Similarly, Microsoft told me it would continue to offer ChatGPT GPT-4 Turbo in Copilot for free, but only during “non-peak hours”. On the other hand, Copilot Pro subscribers will always have access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo.

There are several advantages of using the pro subscription. For example, if you want to use DALL-E 3 at its full potential, Copilot Pro could be a better option as it offers 100 daily boosts and faster performance.

Similarly, a Pro subscription may allow you to try experimental models before everyone else.

The post First look: Microsoft’s ChatGPT GPTs in Copilot now rolling out for free appeared first on Windows Latest

In the app package folder of Notepad, references to Notepad’s ChatGPT-powered feature have been spotted. The files are named with prefixes such as “CoWriterCreditLimitDialog”, “CoWriterDropDownButton”, and “CoWriterWaitlistDialog”, which indicate various UI elements and dialogs that might be part of the new feature’s UI.

With Cocreator in Notepad, you’ll be able to use the capabilities of ChatGPT to generate unique and original content directly within the app. References to “CreditLimitDialog” suggest the Notepad could limit AI usage using a “credit” system, potentially offering a usage quota model.

You’ll initially receive boosts, or credits, for creating original content using Notepad. A boost could be used on a word basis. But that doesn’t mean you cannot create content after using the initial bonus boosts.

You can still generate content using Cocreartor AI in Notepad, but the generation time will be slower than usual.

Another reference to “CoWriterDropDownButton” points to a user interface allowing you to open the Cocreator panel on the right side.

Similarly, a “CoWriterInfoButton” may provide more information, such as how to use it, its capabilities, or perhaps help and troubleshooting information.

Windows Latest understands that the Notepad AI feature could begin rolling out to testers in the coming days. Still, there might be a waitlist, which could be due to a phased rollout or limited access during an initial beta testing period.

A closer look at Notepad’s AI feature in Windows 11

The above promotional image, included within Notepad’s updated app package, explains how you’ll be able to interact with the AI.

It looks like the interface would be similar to Microsoft Edge’s AI writing feature. You can choose between options like “Length,” “Tone,” “Format,” and “Instructions,” which suggests that AI can help you modify the text you write.

Unsurprisingly, Notepad AI is context-aware and can provide suggestions relevant to the document’s content. In this case, a historical text about the Roman conquest of Britain.

There’s also a counter indicating “1 of 4,” meaning multiple suggestions are available for the selected text, and you can cycle through them.

Additionally, the presence of a “thumbs up” icon with a counter next to it suggests that there may be an option for users to provide feedback on the AI’s suggestions, which could help the system learn and improve over time.

As I have mentioned in my previous articles, Microsoft wants Copilot AI everywhere, including the apps famous for their simplicity – Notepad and Paint.

What do you think of AI integration in Notepad? Let us know in the comments below.

The post First look: Microsoft is adding ChatGPT AI to Notepad on Windows 11 appeared first on Windows Latest

Starting with Windows 11 Build 26020, Microsoft has pulled the plug on two of its features – WordPad and People. Both apps are no longer installed on Windows 11 when you do a clean “fresh installation” of the operating system using the Build 26020.

For now, this change is limited to Build 26020, but a note in its support document suggests the WordPad will also be removed from the production builds. It’s unclear when Microsoft will remove WordPad from Windows 11, but it’s likely targeted towards the long-rumoured Windows Hudson Valley update.

In a support document updated in December 2023, Microsoft clearly mentioned that WordPad has been depreciated and “is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows”.

Without explaining why the company is removing the legacy text editor app, it suggested people use Microsoft Word for rich text documents. If you prefer a lightweight or free text editor for documents .txt, Microsoft recommends switching to NotePad.

“We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt,” the tech giant noted.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Microsoft heavily invests in apps like NotePad and Paint.

Interestingly, Microsoft also won’t let users reinstall the WordPad once it is removed from the OS. Since WordPad is not available in the Microsoft Store, you won’t be able to visit the native app store and grab the app again.

Once removed, it’s not coming back through the official mediums.

Microsoft is removing legacy apps and services

Microsoft is also phasing out the People app and Steps Recorder.

The People app, which made much more sense during the Windows 10 Mobile era, is no longer installed in fresh Windows canary downloads.

Back then, Microsoft described the People app as your address book, somewhat similar to the contacts app on your phone, but it also combined some of the famous native social apps in one place. This included Skype, Mail, and Calendar apps.

At the same time, Microsoft is removing other legacy components from the operating system, such as the old taskbar, system tray and P2P services.

When these changes are implemented in the production channel, some workarounds, like editing the Windows Registry to re-enable the legacy taskbar, will no longer be effective.

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